1966 Ferrari 275 GTB

The 275 GTB is one of the most beautiful cars ever produced by Ferrari. This car was completed in September, 1966 in steel bodied form with alloy doors, bonnet and boot, and sold new to the first owner Mr. Sapico, a resident of Bologna, Italy. Its original color scheme was Argento (silver) with Nero (black) leather interior upholstery, the livery it wears today.

This 275 GTB the second to last (“penultimate”) 275 GTB, built just before the introduction of the '/4' four-cam model, and therefore benefitted from all the upgraded and refinements made along the production run. Out of the approximate 435 275 GTB/2's produced, only 205 were “long nosed”. Only 58 are the most desirable iteration of long nose & torque tube, as is this outstanding example.

The original owner sent the virtually new car twice to the Ferrari Factory Assistenza Clienti (factory service department), located at Viale Trento Trieste in Modena, Italy. This was on December 2, 1966, and again on February 3, 1967. It is believed that the gearbox and engine were replaced at that point while the car was still under guarantee. The car today has the correct type 275 engine (213/100148) and gearbox types, as its Classiche certification confirms.

In the 1970s the Ferrari was exported from Italy to Canada. In 1978 it was sold by the official Ferrari dealer Yonge Steele Motors of Toronto, Canada to Mr. G C Bell of Thunder Bay, Ontario, subsequently passing to Gerry Layer and then to G J Amaroso in California.

Between early 1989 and June 1991, the Ferrari was restored in California at a cost of $225,000, being repainted dark blue and re-trimmed with tan leather. It was then advertised for sale by Dane Prenovitz of Foster City, California, and in 1992 was sold to well-known collector Dr. Ervin F. Lyon of Lexington, Massachusetts. While in Dr. Lyon's collection, the car was shown at the 2nd annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic in February 1993, receiving a 2nd in class award (275 Ferraris), while the following year, again at 1994 Cavallino, it placed 1st in class. During Dr Lyon's ownership spanning 13 years the car was maintained by renowned Ferrari expert Paul Russell and Company of Essex, Massachusetts.

In early 2006 Dr. Lyon sold the Ferrari to Christopher Lynch of Massachusetts, who continued to use the expert services of Paul Russell and Company. It would remain until its sale via Paul Russell, to a Swiss collector in December 2009. A photo documented major engine, gearbox and ignition overhaul and full service was carried out at renowned Ferrari specialist Garage Costantini in Zürich in April 2014, with an odometer reading of 67,454km – a figure that is in fact believed to be genuine from new.

In late 2016, it was returned to its original delivery color scheme of Argento (silver) over Nero (black) at a cost in excess $100,000, supported by invoices and photos on file from UK-based specialists Mototechnique who carried out the extensive work.

This extensively documented car comes with a history file including a vast quantity of invoices, notes, files, old US title documents, and photographs of the bare metal re-spray and engine rebuild previously undertaken. This spectacular example has been certified by Ferrari Classiche, and is offered with the all-important Ferrari Classiche certification red book, books and manuals in leather pouch and complete tool roll and set.

Our client purchased the automobile with our guidance in January 2017, at which point he tasked us with bringing the car to an impeccable state. We found the car to be in outstanding condition and performed a full undercarriage restoration, including all four corners (suspension, brakes, etc.), refinished the exhaust, fitted new show quality fuel and brakes lines, refinished the wheels and fitted the correct new tyres (205VR14 Michelin XWX), performed a full engine detail and engine compartment restoration.

Upon completion of the work it was brought back to Palm Beach to the 2018 Cavallino (after a 25 year hiatus), where it scored 96 points, a platinum score at any other show, with deductions such that the car can easily earn a Cavallino Platinum status in the near future. The following day at the Mar-A-Lago Concours, it won best in best class in the grand turismo category. Two months later, on March 25, 2018 it won Best in Show among dozens of Ferraris at the Los Angeles Petersen Museum's Ferrari Concours commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Enzo Ferrari's birth.

This automobile is arguably the finest 275 steel bodied 2 cam on the market today. Its restoration was done to the highest quality and all work was recently completed, unlike other cars with restorations 10,15 or 20 years old. A similar alloy 2 cam or steel bodied 4 cam cannot be found for under $3 million. With values having dipped since 2015, this is an opportunity to purchase what is widely regarded as the best and most elegant Ferrari ever made at a very attractive acquisition price. Supplied with a Ferrari Classiche certification, its extensive ownership history, manuals and their leather pouch and tools, and in its most desirable color configuration, this is the complete package for the most discerning collector. Finally, this 275 simply drives better than any of the other 2 cams we have ever had the pleasure to experience on the road.

Please contact us to arrange an appointment for inspection. For additional information, please contact us at (310) 558-3300. View our entire selection of exceptional automobiles at WWW.EMCARS.COM